A Negro Explorer at the North Pole · Chapter
Ready for the Dash to the Pole explained
As the expedition prepares for the final push to the North Pole, Henson describes the harsh conditions at Cape Columbia, including heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and the logistical movements of supplies.
What happens
As the expedition prepares for the final push to the North Pole, Henson describes the harsh conditions at Cape Columbia, including heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and the logistical movements of supplies. The chapter captures the arrival of Commander Peary and the immediate departure of Bartlett and Borup onto the Arctic Ocean, emphasizing the relentless discipline and urgency of the mission.
Themes in this chapter
Perseverance and Endurance
The chapter highlights the relentless push forward despite brutal cold, heavy snow, and logistical challenges, embodying the team's endurance.
Loyalty and Companionship
Henson notes Captain Bartlett's silent but glad manner upon meeting, and the cooperative efforts of the team in building igloos and moving supplies.
Characters to notice
- Matthew Henson
Narrates the chapter, describes his own movements and observations, including helping build an igloo for Dr. Goodsell and retrieving supplies with his dog team.
- Dr. J. W. Goodsell
His igloo was blown away, and Henson helped him build a new one.
- Professor Donald B. MacMillan
Left camp with his party to retrieve supplies dumped at Cape Colan and carry them to Cape Aldrich.
- George Borup
Left camp with his party to retrieve supplies and later loaded up and pushed onto the ice after Peary's arrival.
- Captain Bob Bartlett
Met Henson on the trail, helped push loaded sledges to Cape Aldrich, and was among the first to depart onto the ice after Peary's arrival.
- Professor Ross G. Marvin
Arrived at camp with his party of three Eskimos, built an igloo, and changed into new reindeer and polar bear skin clothing.
- Commander Robert E. Peary
Arrived at camp with his dog team in the lead, immediately issued orders, and sent Bartlett and Borup forward onto the ice.
Key passages
“The Commander didn’t want to stop. He immediately commenced to shout and issue orders, and, by the time he had calmed down, both Captain Bartlett and George Borup had loaded up and pushed forward on to the ice of the Arctic Ocean, bound for the trophy of over four hundred years of effort.”
Peary wasted no time upon arrival, immediately barking orders, and within moments Bartlett and Borup were already heading out onto the Arctic ice toward the Pole.
Illustrates Peary's urgent, commanding leadership style and the swift transition from preparation to action.
“Professor Marvin came over to our igloo and changed his clothes; that is, in a temperature of at least 45° below zero, by the light of my lantern he coolly and calmly stripped to the pelt, and proceeded to cloth himself in the new suit of reindeerskin and polar bearskin clothing, that had been made for him by the Eskimo woman, Ahlikahsingwah, aboard the Roosevelt.”
Despite the extreme cold, Professor Marvin calmly stripped naked by lantern light to change into a new fur outfit made for him by an Eskimo woman on the ship.
Highlights the extreme conditions and the matter-of-fact attitude of the explorers toward the cold.